Counter
demonstration against protestors of the Iranian President
September 22, 2008

New York
City, September 22, 2008

Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, spokesman of Neturei
Karta International, issued the following statement
on the eve of the arrival of the Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"It has been our honor and privilege to meet
with President Ahmadinejad, as well as other Iranian
leaders, several times in the past. In addition we
have had the pleasure of visiting Iran on different
occasions. At each encounter with the Iranian leadership,
we have emphasized to them that, despite media hysteria
and the statements of some misinformed Jews, we have
found the Iranian people and their leaders to be
friendly and respectful."

"Likewise, although we as Jews are not to
be involved in politics, (according to Jewish law,
Jewish people are required to be loyal citizens to
the countries wherein they reside), we have found
the Iranian President to be a deeply religious man,
dedicated to a peaceful world, based on mutual respect,
fairness and dialogue."

"Judaism seeks peace. Unfortunately, there
are some Jews today, influenced by the barely century
old, philosophy of Zionism, who feel that the proper
Jewish response to enemies, be they real or fantasized,
is aggression and calls for violence and unfortunately
attempts to drag other nations down the path of war."

"It as sad that so few have actually attempted
to speak to the Iranian President or seek the true
opinion of Iranian Jewry who live in peace and practice
their faith throughout that nation. We have met this
man who has demonstrated time and again that he is
sincerely interested in the well being of Iran's
Jewish community and has deep respect for world Jewry
and their Torah faith, The Zionist attempt to socially
isolate this man and his people is immoral and disastrous"

"Zionism is antithetical to Torah beliefs.
It believes in creating our own sovereign entity
which is expressly forbidden due to the Divine decree
of exile. This ideology leads to aggression against
nations and is incarnated in the State of "Israel".
This State continually oppresses other people in
the name of Judaism and the entire Jewish people.
This movement has exacerbated anti Semitism throughout
the world. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad understands
this distinction between traditional Judaism and
Zionist distortion."

"We view our approach to Iran as a model
for all Jews and all mankind. The Torah is the Almighty"s
blueprint of mercy and justice for all creation.
We have followed this model in our dealings with
the Iranian President and found in him an individual
dedicated to these same ideals. There is much to
be gained by talking and listening and everything
to be lost by raising the rhetoric in the direction
of war." The grave tragedy of our era is the
inordinate power garnered by Zionism, whose acceptance
of force as the only means to reconcile conflicts,
has influenced some to abandon Torah fundamentals.
We hope and pray that those Jews who have fallen
prey to Zionism will return to the traditional Jewish
approach of dialogue, respect and reconciliation."

"War is a horrible thing. The dark clouds
of a future conflict are now on the horizon in the
Middle East. Torah Jewry hopes and prays that this
may yet be averted."

"In preparation to the High Holidays, we
pray to the Almighty that this New Year should usher
in a year of peace and prosperity for our great host
country, the United States of America, as well as
the Islamic Republic of Iran and the entire world.
May we merit to see, soon in our days, the Holy Land
free of Zionism, with the peaceful and speedy dismantlement
of the State of "Israel". May we merit
to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesies (Isaiah
2.4): "And they will beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. No
nation will lift its sword against any other, nor
will they learn warfare anymore". Ultimately,
may we merit to the day when all nations will recognize
the Kingdom of the Almighty and serve Him in harmony
and peace. AMEN."

In conclusion says Rabbi Weiss, "Out of great
respect to the Iranian Nation and their leadership
we proudly welcome the Honorable President Ahmadinejad
to New York, WELCOME!"